Dad's '59 Retirement Plan

[Ratpin]

Well I finally bought me a Chevy truck..well actually I bought it as a surprise gift for my dad who retires later this year.

Every year my dad and I go out to the Portland Swap Meet the first weekend in April to drool over all the cool old junk for sale. If you've never been I suggest you go at least once, no matter how far away you live.

This year, the last day of the auction falls on April 6th, which also happens to be his 66th birthday. He is planning on retiring later this year and I have been trying to get him motivated to buy something to work on so he has something to keep busy with and hopefully keep him from getting old after retiring. It would also give us some good bonding time since I don't get to see him as much as I would like to, and I have a pretty well equipped shop at my house and plenty of space to work.

So last week I drove by a local guy who is a 58-59 freak (has like 12 of them and tons of parts) and what do I see? A '59 deluxe fleetside shortbed with big glass complete with almost perfect spear trim on the bed. I went and talked to him about it and the next day paid the man and brought it home. It's a nice old honest and solid truck. It has tons of Patina. It needs a bit of work to get road worthy, but that's the point right?







I had already reserved a spot at the swap meet so my plan is to have it out at the swap and surprise my dad with it as a birthday/early retirement gift. I can't wait to see his reaction.


Plans at this point will be:

Get it running
Get it stopping
Repair the rotted bed floor areas
Sid's drop front axle
Flip rear axle
Notch rear frame
Posies 3" drop springs

[flashed]

I wish I could be there to see the look on his face when you give him the truck ,I think he will be stunned in a good way ,you are a good son .

[Kim57]

That is a great git.
Looks like a nice solid truck.
Kim

[dmack91]

Sounds great. I will have to keep an eye out for your booth. Hopefully it isn't raining too hard.

[Ratpin]

Originally Posted by dmack91

Sounds great. I will have to keep an eye out for your booth. Hopefully it isn't raining too hard.

We can only hope...

[sqrlnts]

Great looking project.

[58-GMC]

What a cool idea! I am sure your dad is gonna love it!

[Spblack]

what an awesome surprise and gift. cant wait to see some build pics

[rusty76]

I'm in the ride for this one.

[Ratpin]

I've been doing some small detail stuff in preparation of the reveal next month. I want to save the big stuff for after dad gets the truck so we can work on it together.

Today I started the clr treatment and am excited with the outcome so far.

Night and day!

[Ratpin]

[Kim57]

Sure looks to be cleaning up real nice.
Kim

[meter swinger]

What an awesome thing to do for your dad. If I make it to the swap this year I'll look for the truck. Congrats on getting your dad into the fleetside club.

[79azc10]

Looks great hope he loves it

[mechanixman]

Aww man that's great!
I was really hoping this was posted a year ago so I could see pictures of his reaction!
I can't wait to see how it turns out.

[youngrodder]

Great plan..The only thing I would suggest it to stage someone near your swap meet spot with a video camera to capture the moment. I know someone that did something similar for some people who he was building a suburban for and he captured it on film.

Very cool truck. Good luck pulling it off.

Marc

[66chevy43]

Originally Posted by Ratpin

Well I finally bought me a Chevy truck..well actually I bought it as a surprise gift for my dad who retires later this year.

Every year my dad and I go out to the Portland Swap Meet the first weekend in April to drool over all the cool old junk for sale. If you've never been I suggest you go at least once, no matter how far away you live.

This year, the last day of the auction falls on April 6th, which also happens to be his 66th birthday. He is planning on retiring later this year and I have been trying to get him motivated to buy something to work on so he has something to keep busy with and hopefully keep him from getting old after retiring. It would also give us some good bonding time since I don't get to see him as much as I would like to, and I have a pretty well equipped shop at my house and plenty of space to work.

So last week I drove by a local guy who is a 58-59 freak (has like 12 of them and tons of parts) and what do I see? A '59 deluxe fleetside shortbed with big glass complete with almost perfect spear trim on the bed. I went and talked to him about it and the next day paid the man and brought it home. It's a nice old honest and solid truck. It has tons of Patina. It needs a bit of work to get road worthy, but that's the point right?







I had already reserved a spot at the swap meet so my plan is to have it out at the swap and surprise my dad with it as a birthday/early retirement gift. I can't wait to see his reaction.


Plans at this point will be:

Get it running
Get it stopping
Repair the rotted bed floor areas
Sid's drop front axle
Flip rear axle
Notch rear frame
Posies 3" drop springs

Now that is a cool story and what a retirement gift for your dad! You sir are an A+ in my book and I would guess your dad would say the same. Quality time time spent with family and doing something like that together is a great idea. No one will ever be able to take that memory of what you do together away from you. Good luck on the build!

[akdg87]

thats a solid looking truck. clr does work wonders!

[_Ogre]

nice truck with all that good looking chrome
your clr wash job is impressive too



from this to this with only a wash job

[Ratpin]

So here is a short video of me handing the keys over to my dad. He was obviously stunned in the video and it did not set in until minutes later before he actually realized it was his.

[66chevy43]

That just as cool as it gets! Was wondering how that turned out and from the looks of the video it went just as planned! Thanks for sharing the cool story!

[Spblack]

awesome

[Russell Ashley]

That is very cool. I think he liked it, LOL.

Be sure and keep this thread going and let us know what's happening with it.

[flashed]

Im glad he liked HIS truck.

[79azc10]

That's very cool